Bubble gun



April 1958 G. N. SCHWERBEL ETAL 2,828,579

BUBBLE GUN Filed May 27, 1957 AUM/ Abba/m United States Patent BUBBLE GUN George N. Schwerbel and Jack E. Mann, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application May 27, 1957, Serial No. 661,327

Claims. (Cl. 46-6) This invention relates to a toy gun and more particularly to a gun for forming a succession of bubbles.

An article that produces bubbles has always been a popular toy. In practice the toy is usually dipped in a soapyor oily solution so as to form a film on one end. A pressure producing means is utilized at the other end of the toy to subject the film to air under pressure for forming the bubble. The air pressure may be created by various means, such using the other end of the toy as a mouthpiece and blowing into it, or by mounting a squeezable attachment at the other end which can be squeezed by hand to create the air pressure. It is desirable when using this toy to form a repeating succession of bubbles after a single dip of the one end to create the oily film. However, too much pressure or an unbalanced presentation of the pressure to the film will break the film, necessitating dipping the toy again to create a new film to blow bubbles.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a toy which will repeatedly form bubbles follow ing the single application of an oily film.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy gun for the formation of any oily film at one end thereof and a pressure producing means at the other end thereof to repeatedly form bubbles from a single creation of an oily film.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a toy gun having a mouthpiece for introducing air under pressure at one end and the formation of an oily film at the other end with the air under pressure being treated to repeatedly form bubbles when a film has been initially created. 7

Still another object ofthe present invention is to provide a toy gun for the formation of an oily film at one end thereof, a pressure producing means at the other end thereof and an arrangement for treating the air under pressure to subject the oily film to an even pressure to maintain 'the film unbroken to repeatedly form bubbles.

Other objects will be apparent from the following descriptionwhen read in connection with the drawings in which: 7 g V Fig.1 is aside view partly in section of the toy gun;

Fig 2 is an end view of the toy gun shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a, section view taken along lines III-Ill of Fig. 1; V i

Fig. 4 is a section view of part of the toy gun showing a modification of the pressure producing means;

,Fig. 5 is a section view of part of the toy gun showing another modification of the pressure producing means;

Fig. 6 is a section view of part of the toy gun showing a further modification of the pressure producing means.

Referring to thedrawings by characters of reference, Figs. 1., 2 and 3 illustrate a toy gun It for making bubbles. A .b arrelll extends from one end of gun 1t) and tapers outwardly. to its free end. A handle 12 is attached to the other end of gun 1'13, and handle 12 includes a pressure producing means'i3. As clearly seen in Fig. l i

pressure producing means 13 comprises a flexible air-.

filled container 14 which becomes smaller in size and terminates in an upper part 16. A restricted opening 17 is formed in upper part 16 in line with barrel 11.

A slug of material 19 is formed on one side of the inside of gun 10. Slug 19is positioned forward of the upper part 16 of container 14. On the rear of slug 19 an extension or male member 21 is formed and the restricted opening 17 in upper part 16 functions as a female mem-v ber to fit around extension 21. An annular raised part 22 on extension 21 insures a tight fit. A restricted opening or longitudinal channel 23 extends through slug 19 and extension 21 so that air passing in or out of air-filled con tainer 14 passes through channel 23.

A hollow element or tube 26 is positioned longitudinally in the rear of barrel 11. Part of tube 26, shown as tube.

extension 27, projects rearwardly beyond the rear end of barrel 11 so that a clearly cut edge 28 is formed on the:

rear end of tube 26. It will be seen in Figs. 1 and 3 that tube 26 is in line with channel 23, and a predetermined spacing exists between edge 28 and channel 23 so that air forced from channel 23 will undergo a change in pressure. An opening 29 is formed in each side of the gun adjacent tube extension 27. An imitation or simulated cartridge chamber 31 is formed on each side of the gun, and it will be seen in Figs. 1 and 3 that apertures 30 are formed at the front of each chamber 31. When air is taken into squeezable container 14 through channel23, it will be.

taken in through openings 29 and apertures 30.

allow air to pass.

to form when gun It) is dipped in an oily solution.

All parts of gun 10 may be formed of thermoplastic: material except squeezable container 14 which may be formed of flexible material, such as rubber. The gun 10 g, may be formed in two substantially symmetrical side parts and fastened together with squeezable container 14 inserted in handle 12 with its fitting over male member 21.

An imitation gun hammer 37 may also be formed at the rear of gun 10. However, it should be understood that other materials and other methods of fabrication may be used to form gun 10 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

A trigger 39 is pivotally mounted in gun 10 on a pivot l slug 41 which may be formed on one side of gun 10. A

hole 42 is formed in the top of trigger 39 to allow slug 41 to pass through when gun 10 is assembled with trigger- 39. A slot 43, as shown in Fig. 2, is formed in the lower front part of handle 12 to allow trigger 39 to slide within and compress container 14. Slot 43 terminates short of the bottom of handle 12, and a protuberance 44 is formed on the rearward bottom edge of trigger 39 so that part of trigger 39 will always be positioned within handle 12 when protuberance 44 abuts the front part of handle 12.

Curved surfaces 40 are formed on the front and rear of Rear curved surface 40' 7 allows trigger 39 to fit closely around the front part of trigger 39, as seen in Fig. 3.

container 14.

In operation the barrel 11 is dipped into an oily solution. It is only necessary to dip the barrel 11 sufliciently to immerse ridge 36 to form an oily film on ridge 36; Air is taken into container 14 through openings 29 and 36, so that even if trigger 39 is squeezed while the gun is being dipped, no solution will be drawn into container I 14. Trigger 39 is pulled back to compress squeezable container 14 and force air through channel 23. The

Patented Apr. 1, 1958 "h it spacing between extension 27 and channel 23' allows the air forced out of channel 23 to drop in pressure. Also the sharp edge 28 helps to break up the pressure air entering tube 26. The air leaving tube 2% is confronted by flat member 32 and since the only passage therethrough is vertical slot 33, a swirling effect is imparted to the air. Although a slot at another angle could be used, it has been found that a vertical slot will provide a perfectly rounded bubble.

. Due to the expansive action of the air passing through barrel. 11 and the swirling effect from slot 33, the tendency of the pressure air to break the film as a bubble is formed on ridge 36 is eliminated. A single bubble will thus be formed and forced from the end 34 of barrel 11. When trigger 39 squeezes air-filled container 14, the swirling effect of slot.33 on the air will cause a rearward suction on the fil'm to further prevent the film from breaking. From this construction and operation it will be seen that continual sqeezing of trigger 39 will form a repeating succession of bubbles from a single dip of gun 10 forming the film on ridge 36. Release of pressure on trigger 39 allows container 14 to take in air from openings 29 and apertures 30, thus forcing trigger 39 back to its normal position as shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 4a modification of the pressure producing means 13 is shown. Handle 12 is substantially hollow, and a trigger 51 is pivotally mounted on a body slug 52. Trigger 51 has an upward extension which includes a forked end 53' which fits about a projection 54 mounted on a longitudinally sliding rod 56. Cartridge chamber 31 is formed as a cylinder to accommodate a piston 57 on the end of rod 56. An annular ring 58 is mounted on rod 56 so that a spring 59 can be fitted between the rear of chamber 31 and ring 58. A body projection 61 guides rod 56 and determines the most rearward position of forked end 53. When it is desired to form the bubble, gun 10 is dipped in an oily solution to form a film on ridge 36' as previously described. Trigger 51 is squeezed tocompress spring 59 and push rod 56 and piston 57 forward. Air is thereupon forced through a restricted opening or channel 62 into tube 26 (not shown in Fig. 4), and the treatment of the pressure air and formation of bubbles is effected as previously described. After each squeezing operation spring 59 returns trigger 51 to its normal position.

In Fig. 5 another modification of the pressure producingmeans 13 is shown. Trigger 64 slides on a rail 65 and is attached to a sliding rod 67 which has a piston 68 on the other end that slides in cylinder. 69. A first con duit 71 connects cylinder 69 with extension 21. Conduit 71 -'is fitted at one end to extension 21 in the same manner as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 3, and conduit 71 is fitted at the other end on an upper projection 72 having a channel 73 formed therein. A lower projection 74 having a channel 76 therein provides an air intake for cylinder 69, andspring 77 maintains piston 68 in its normal position; When trigger 64 is squeezed, piston 68 compresses spring 77 and forces air through conduit 7'! and channel 23'to form bubbles as previously described. Release of trigger 64 allows spring 77 to return the trigger to its normal position.

A further modification of the pressure producing means is shown in Fig. 6. Handle 12 is substantially hollow and a mouthpiece 79 having a channel 81 therein is formed in the upper rear part of handle 12 in line with extension 21. A flexible hollow member 82 connects mouthpiece 79'with extension 21. When it is desired to form bubbles, air can be blown into mouthpiece 7 then through hollow member 82 and channel 23 to form bubbles as previously described.

The particular embodiments of the invention illustrated and-describedare to be considered illustrative only. The present invention includes such other modifications and equivalents as may readily occur to those skilled in the art,- within the scope of the appended'claims,

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A toy gun for forming bubbles comprising a barrel extending from one end, said barrel tapered outwardly to its free end, a handle attached to the other end of said gun, said handle having pressure producing means included therein, said pressure producing means having a portion including a restricted opening terminating in the upper part of said gun in line with said barrel, a tube positioned longitudinally in said barrel, said tube having part thereof extending rearwardly beyond said barrel, said tube extension terminating adjacent said opening in said pressure producing means so as to leave a predetermined spacing therebetween, an aperture formed in the side of said gun adjacent the termination of said tube extension, 2. flat member transversely positioned in said barrel remote from the end of said tube within said barrel, said flat memher having a vertical slot formed therein to allow the passage of air through said barrel, and a ridge formed around the inside of said barrel to provide adhesion for a bubble forming film, said ridge positioned between the free end of said barrel and said fiat member.

2. A toy gun for forming bubbles comprising a barrel extending from one end, said barrel tapered outwardly to its free end, a handle attached to the other end of said gun, said handle having pressure producing means formed therein, said pressure producing means including a channeled mouthpiece positioned in the upper rear part of said handle, a hollow member extending forwardly from said mouthpiece and having a restricted opening formed in its forward end in line with said barrel so that air under pressure blown into said mouthpiece will be forced into said barrel, a tube positioned longitudinally in said barrel, said tube having part thereof extending rearwardly beyond said barrel, said tube extension terminating adjacent said opening in said pressure producing means so as to leave a predetermined spacing therebetween, an aperture formed in the side of said gun adjacent the termination of said tube extension, a flat member transversely positioned in said barrel remote from the end of said tube within said barrel, said fiat member having a vertical slot formed therein to allow the passage of air through said barrel, and a ridge formed around the inside of said barrel to provide adhesion for a bubble forming film,.said'ridge positioned between the free end of said barrel and said flat member.

3. A toy gun for forming bubbles comprising a barrel extending from one end, said barrel tapered outwardly to its free end, a. handle attached to the. other end of said gun, said handle having a flexible air-filled container mounted therein, said container terminating at its upward portion in a restricted opening in line with said barrel, a trigger having one end pivotally mounted in said gun, said trigger operable to squeeze said flexible container to project air under pressure through said restricted opening,.a tube positioned longitudinally in said barrel, said tube having part thereof extending rearwardly beyond said barrel, said tube extension terminating closely adjacent said opening in said container so as to leave a predetermined spacing therebetween, a flat member transversely positioned in said barrel remote from the end of said tube within said barrel, said fiat member. having a vertical slot formed therein to allow thepassage of said air under pressure through said barrel, and a ridge formed around the inside of said barrel to provide adhesion for a bubble forming film, said ridge positioned between the free end of said barrel and said flat member.

4. A toy gun for forming bubbles comprising a barrel extending from one end, said barrel tapered outwardly to its free end, a handle attached to the other end'of said gun, a simulated cartridge chamber formed in said gun rearwardly of said barrel, said chamber having a piston movable therethrough and a restricted opening formed in its forward end in line with said barrel, a trigger pivotally mounted in said gun and connected to said piston so that operation of said trigger forces air under pressure through said restricted opening, a tube positioned longitudinally in said barrel, said tube having part thereof extending rearwardly beyond said barrel, said tube extension terminating closely adjacent said opening so as to leave a predetermined spacing therebetween, an aperture formed in the side of said gun adjacent the termination of said tube extension, a flat member transversely positioned in said barrel remote from the end of said tube within said barrel, said flat member having a vertical slot formed therein to allow the passage of air through said barrel, and a ridge formed around the inside of said barrel to provide adhesion for a bubble forming film, said ridge positioned between the free end of said barrel and said fiat member.

5. A toy gun for forming bubbles comprising a barrel extending from one end, said barrel tapered outwardly to its free end, a handle attached to the other end of said gun, said handle including a chamber having a piston slidably mounted therein, a conduit connected to one end of said chamber and extending upward to terminate in a restricted opening in line with said barrel, a trigger having one end pivotally mounted in said gun and connected to said piston so that operation of said trigger forces air under pressure through said conduit and said restricted opening, a tube positioned longitudinally in said barrel, said tube having part thereof extending rearwardly beyond said barrel, said tube extension terminating closely adjacent said opening in said conduit so as to leave a pre determined spacing therebetween, an aperture formed in the side of said gun adjacent the termination of said tube extension, a fiat member transversely positioned in said barrel remote from the end of said tube within said barrel, said flat member having a vertical slot formed therein to allow the passage of air through said barrel, and a ridge formed around the inside of said barrel to provide adhesion for a bubble forming film, said ridge positioned between the free end of said barrel and said flat member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Quinn Mar. 4, 1952 

